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From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

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Baker Island

(½" Thumbnail of Flag)
(territory of the US)

Map

Location: 0 13 N, 176 31 W -- Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

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Flag

Description: the flag of the US is used

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Geography

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 13 N, 176 31 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 1.4 sq km
land area: 1.4 sq km
comparative area: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4.8 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: no natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

People

Population: uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins are located near the middle of the west coast

Government

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island
Data code: FQ
Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag: the flag of the US is used

Economy

Economic overview: no economic activity

Transportation

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m
Transportation note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Defense

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Baker Island

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).